Making Boyd uncomfortable has been key for Gamecocks

USC's game-plan for slowing down Tajh Boyd and Clemson's high-powered passing attack in recent years has been to hit the quarterback before he has a chance to make the throw.

By MATT CONNOLLYmatthew.connolly@shj.com

South Carolina's game-plan for slowing down Tajh Boyd and Clemson's high-powered passing attack in recent years has been to hit the quarterback before he has a chance to make the throw.USC has sacked Boyd 11 times in the past two meetings, holding the Tigers to just 266 combined passing yards and two passing touchdowns.In Boyd's only start at Williams-Brice Stadium he completed just 11 of 29 passes for 83 yards as he was constantly under pressure during USC's 34-13 victory in 2011.Gamecocks defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said getting pressure on Boyd will once again be important if USC is to win its fifth straight in the rivalry.“I don't know if we can rattle him, but we definitely want to try to get pressure on him early because he'll pick you apart if you don't,” Ward said.Defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles, who leads USC in tackles for loss with 11 and sacks with seven, said it is not only important for the Gamecocks to get to Boyd, but also to make the play when they arrive.Quarles said USC can't allow Boyd to scramble out of trouble and make plays in the running game.“It's really crucial for us to stay in our lanes this week when we rush. It's really crucial for us to keep him contained and just to play our assignments,” Quarles said. “He's an elusive quarterback. He likes to scramble around and get out of the pocket. He makes plays with his legs so we've just got to keep him corralled in the pocket and we'll be fine.”Ward said that USC has not needed to blitz to get pressure on Boyd in the past, and he is hopeful the Gamecocks will not have to blitz again this year. Ideally Ward would like to rush with four and drop seven guys into coverage.“A four-man rush has gotten to him, and we're going to have to get a four-man rush to him this year if we're going to be successful,” he said.Quarles said the defensive front knows what it needs to do to earn a win.“That's what we were recruited to come here and do, get after the passer with four and let everybody cover and do their job,” he said. “We were challenged this week, and now we've got to go out there and execute.”South Carolina star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who had a monster game against Clemson last season, will also be counted on to put pressure on Boyd.Clowney set the record for the most sacks ever at Death Valley with 4½ last season as USC sacked Boyd six times total.The junior said this offseason that Boyd was scared of him, a statement that USC coach Steve Spurrier blew off as “summer talk” earlier this week.After USC won at Clemson last year, Clowney said, “I don't know how it feels to lose to Clemson. I'm not going to either because we're not losing to them as long as I'm here.”Clowney has been double-teamed and triple-teamed this season and has recorded just 8½ tackles for loss and two sacks. Ward expects Clemson to block Clowney with multiple players as well and is hopeful his star will have one of his best games of the season against the Tigers.“Everybody this year has done something different against Jadeveon, and I'm sure that they will too. A lot of people are putting backs on him. Some teams are putting three people on him,” Ward said. “JD is motivated anyway. He loves to play the game. I think he'll be really up for this game because it's a state rivalry.”Chaz Sutton, who will start opposite Clowney at defensive end, has recorded just 6½ tackles for loss and two sacks this season. With offenses paying so much attention to Clowney, Sutton was a candidate to have a breakout year, but he said the season has not played out the way he had hoped.Still, Sutton is hopeful he can finish the season strong, beginning with making some key plays against Clemson.“As far as this year some of the stuff I wanted to do didn't happen the way I wanted it to go, but I've got a lot of football left here,” he said. “I'm still looking forward to just trying to make plays and help this team win football games.”Sutton said Spurrier has challenged USC's offensive and defensive lines to play well against the Tigers.“Coach Spurrier put the pressure on us. The up-front guys, we've got to come to play, both sides of the football, offensive and defensive lines,” he said. “We've got to come out and just hit them in the mouth and establish our foundation up front. If we can do that we take control of the game.”

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.